FAQs
What is LNG?
LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas, natural gas in its liquid form. During a process called liquefaction, natural gas is chilled and condensed to -260 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in the gas becoming a liquid.
Six hundred cubic feet of gas can be condensed into one cubic foot of LNG, making it more practical to store and transport across long distances via specially designed transport vessels.
Once it arrives at on-shore facilities, the LNG is converted back to gas and can be stored on-site or directly enter the nation’s pipeline system.
Is LNG safe?
Yes. LNG has been used safely in the United States for more than 40 years. There are more than 100 LNG facilities in North America. LNG is an odorless, non-toxic and non-corrosive liquid, which evaporates quickly as it moves from super-cold liquid to a gas. LNG is not stored under pressure. The industry is rigorously monitored by several federal and state agencies.
LNG has been part of the worldwide energy supply infrastructure since the 1950s. During this time, there have been more than 33,000 LNG tanker voyages without a significant safety incident. There are currently at least 40 import terminals and export terminals in operation. There are more than 100 LNG storage tanks in use around the world.
Why does Maine need LNG?
Current supplies of natural gas cannot keep up with the projected increase in demand in the northeast.
Maine and New England need natural gas to fuel our economy in a manner that is protective of our environment.
As the temporary shutdown of the Sable Island gas field in Nova Scotia in December 2007 showed, we are dangerously close to shortages of gas for heat and electrical generation. Delivery of LNG by ship is the only method for supplementing the existing natural gas on this continent.
Where does LNG come from?
LNG is produced in several places around the world. Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean is a major supplier to the US market, as are the African nations of Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria.
Middle Eastern nations with significant natural gas reserves and liquefaction facilities include Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. Asia also produces LNG. Indonesia is the world’s largest LNG exporter.
What are the major uses for natural gas?
Natural gas is used as a clean burning fuel to heat homes and businesses, to produce heat for industrial processes, to power the latest model bus engines, and to generate electricity. Nearly 40 percent of electrical generation facilities in Maine use natural gas as a fuel because it is the cleanest, most efficient fossil fuel available.
Would an LNG facility make natural gas available to the local area?
Calais LNG creates the opportunity for a private company to establish a natural gas distributorship in this region, something that does not exist today.
An additional supply of natural gas in Maine will provide a competitively priced, very clean and efficient fuel source. al gas as a fuel because it is the cleanest, most efficient fossil fuel available.
Does Calais LNG have a guaranteed long-term supply of LNG?
We expect to have supply confirmed before construction of our facility begins.
What makes Calais LNG unique?
The Calais site has been described as the best site on the eastern seaboard for an LNG terminal.
- We have begun the environmental studies which will help us understand and avoid or mitigate any impacts to resources in the project area. Other factors that make our site ideally suited for an LNG facility include:
- Limited lobster and commercial fishing in immediate proximity
- Location across from Canadian industrial facility and pier
- Topography will limit visual impacts from land
Where will the Calais LNG terminal be located?
We are planning to construct a LNG shipping terminal, storage tanks, and send-out facilities on 140 shoreline acres in Calais that includes 2,800 feet of waterfront on the St. Croix River. The site is seven miles south of downtown Calais.
Have you determined the length and location of the pipeline that would be required to connect Calais LNG to the existing pipeline network?
We are in the process of looking at the various alternatives for connecting to the existing pipeline near Baileyville, but have not finalized which of the many options will meet the test of having minimal impacts at a reasonable cost.
How do you plan to involve the community of Calais and Washington County?
We are excited about our increasing role as a member of the greater Calais community. FERC requires any LNG applicant to encourage and support active public participation and input. We plan to exceed those requirements. We are opening and will regularly staff a public information office on Maine Street in Calais.
We will be actively seeking public input from a wide variety of regional stakeholders on both sides of the border through a series of planned community meetings. We are encouraging residents, business owners and other concerned citizens to contact us directly so that we can build on-going, long-term relationships with all of our neighbors.
How will Calais benefit as the host community of an LNG facility?
Our project will contribute to the local tax base and will support approximately 250 construction jobs and between 40 and 60 permanent operation, maintenance and security jobs once construction is completed. These positions do not include the secondary jobs that will be created during the construction phase, such as vendors and suppliers, as a direct result of our investment in the region.
Our preference is to have local people hired for as many positions as possible, and we will be supporting a local training program to make that possible.
How will this project impact the environment?
We will be conducting rigorous and comprehensive ecosystem studies to examine marine and terrestrial habitats, wetlands, water quality and other factors.